Tied to a Star
J Mascis’ Tied to a Star, the follow up to his acclaimed Sub Pop debut Several Shades of Why, will be available on CD / LP / DL August 25th in Europe and August 26th in North America. The album, led by the songs “Every Morning” and “Wide Awake,” was recorded and produced by Mascis and mixed by John Agnello at Bisquiteen in Amherst, MA. Tied to a Star also features guest appearances from musicians Ken Maiuri (Young@Heart Chorus), Pall Jenkins (Black Heart Procession), Mark Mulcahy (Miracle Legion) and Chan Marshall (Cat Power).
J Mascis' second proper solo album suggests that the Dinosaur Jr. frontman's entering a new, quieter phase in his career, as his work with the acoustic guitar receives an increased amount of attention. Pall Jenkins of the Black Heart Procession, Ken Maiuri, and Mark Mulcahy join him on this quiet collection of tunes.
One of alternative rock's most enduring guitar icons produces another fine set of acoustic songs.
As J Mascis transcends from mere grunge-rock pioneer to bona fide guitar hero/legend, it's an interesting time to assess…
J. Mascis' 2014's solo effort Tied to a Star follows the formula set down by 2011's Several Shades of Why, with acoustic guitars dominating the performances rather than his usually punishing electric attack, and the songs favoring gentler lyrical and melodic themes than is Mascis' stock in trade in Dinosaur Jr.
Is any phrase in the pop lexicon even half as soul-crushing as ‘solo album’? They’re often drab affairs, characterised less by the artist’s individual talent than the absence of their bandmates. We’re lucky that no-one told Dinosaur Jr’s own J Mascis, whose second solo collection in three years is downright lovely.
Here's J Mascis with another batch of understated and partly unplugged tunes for Sub Pop. Mascis surprised everyone with the intimacy of 2011's Several Shades of Why.
Review of J Mascis' new album 'Tied To A Star', the full length solo album from the Dinosaur Jr founding member comes out August 25th via Sub Pop records